Gas tank fuel bladder

[Chiller]

What is the purpose of the Gas tank fuel bladder ? The gas tank on my '79 vette just started leaking . All the after market gas tanks I have found say that they come with out the bladder. How important is it to have this and if so where might I find one?
Thanks,
Chiller

 

[mkapp7879]

Having just put one of these liner-less replacement tanks in one of mine I'm curious, too. Tried to repair some minor pinholes but with the liner in it you really can't do much with it.
My ASSUMPTION is it's a safety thing.
But I figure a tank without a liner is safer than a tank with a leak!

 

[JohnZ]

The bladder was introduced as a safety measure to be more effective in containing fuel in a rear-impact collision. The bladder was inserted in the tank before the two halves of the tank were seam-welded together, and none of the restoration sources have tooled up to mold the bladder, probably due to tooling costs.

 

[Chiller]

So the aftermarket tanks are okay without the bladder ?

 

[JohnZ]

So the aftermarket tanks are okay without the bladder ?

Functionally, they'll work fine, but won't provide the same level of rear-impact protection as the original; the design without the bladder was used for 13 years prior to the bladder's introduction.

 

[Art Jett]

If a tank for a '77 will fit, I have a brand new one still in the box with the reciept from Ecklers. All you would need is the top piece from your old bladder to make a gasket for the fill plate that bolts to the top of the tank. I'd let it go for $150.00 + shipping. I thought my bladder was collapsed, but the tank sender float arm was bent.Art


Never mind! I looked in the catalog and it isn't the same. Damn,I'd like to get rid of it.